Navajo medicine man sentenced in rape case

FARMINGTON, N.M.  A 70-year-old Navajo medicine man accused of raping a teenage girl, who authorities say later gave birth to a daughter he fathered, has been sentenced to 18 months in prison.

David Filfred of Aneth, Utah, pleaded guilty in late June to reduced charges of fourth-degree criminal sexual penetration and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. He had faced up to three years in prison.

Filfred's family members declined to comment, but prosecutors said they were satisfied with the sentence given Wednesday by state District Judge John Dean.

"You always hope this is a place the victim can move forward from. You hope it helps in the healing process," Deputy District Attorney David Ottman said.

Filfred, who has been in custody since March, was given credit for time served and will spend the remainder of his sentence at a state prison.

Filfred was accused of raping a 15-year-old girl in a Farmington motel room in 2002 after buying alcohol for her and another teenage girl.

Arrest documents say the victim, now 21, alleged she feared Filfred would put some type of spiritual harm on her if she spoke about the attack.

The victim, during a hearing in January, said: "What David Filfred did to me has taken everything from me. It's taken my childhood." She went on to say Filfred was old enough to know right from wrong.